Latest news with #Hockenson
NBC Sports
08-08-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
T.J. Hockenson fantasy football preview 2025: Stats, season outlook, predictions
Rotoworld Staff, T.J. Hockenson 2025 Fantasy Football Snapshot Hockenson's targets dipped post-injury last year, but efficiency remained surprisingly steady. Sam Darnold is Seattle now, so young J.J. McCarthy steps in under Kevin O'Connell's guidance. Fully healthy, Hockenson is well-positioned to return to TE1 status. Get personalized fantasy football insights based on your league settings with FantasyLife+. Your league is unique, your advice should be too. Head to and use code ROTO20 for 20% off. Rivers McCown, 2024: Hockenson missed seven games last season while recovering from a torn ACL and MCL he suffered in Week 16 of the 2023 season. The veteran tight end returned to play in 10 games in 2024, catching 41 passes for 455 scoreless yards while averaging 11.1 YPR, but hopes to return to his old form now that he's more than a year removed from his injury. His efficiency metrics post-injury were nearly identical to what he was averaging before his injury, although his targets per game (6.2) in 2024 marked a noticeable decline from his 2023 average (8.5 targets/gm). What's Changed: Sam Darnold is now in Seattle and J.J. McCarthy, last year's No. 10 overall pick, is expected to take the mantle as QB1. While the quarterback position is again in flux, head coach Kevin O'Connell remains a steady presence and looks more and more like a QB whisperer each passing season. Assuming McCarthy is fit for the role, we would expect Hockenson to see volume befitting a high-end TE1. 2025 Outlook: Hockenson is still only 28 years old and has been a focal point of O'Connell's offense since he first arrived in Minnesota. A full offseason should benefit him and his fantasy managers heading into this season, and give him a good shot at finishing as a top-12 fantasy option at the position. **Projections from Spotlight Sports Group Go to: All players | QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs
USA Today
08-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Vikings training camp notebook, day 14: Light work ahead of Saturday's game
The Vikings roster has reported to Eagan, and as a result, they have started their journey into the 2025 season. It starts at home in Minnesota, but they hope it ends on the road in Santa Clara, where they have a chance to raise the Lombardi Trophy for the first time. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O'Connell have new extensions, as do their assistants and coordinators. J.J. McCarthy is finally healthy and ready to take over the controls of a franchise that trusted him enough to stick with him when so many other options presented themselves. All in all, the coaching staff remains essentially unchanged, while the roster sees some position groups infused with youth and talent to solidify them. The Vikings practiced in "shells" on Thursday, only wearing shoulder pads and helmets to prepare for Saturday's preseason matchup against the Houston Texans. But despite the attire, the practice wasn't a walkthrough. There were several 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills. McCarthy and Hockenson continue building chemistry J.J. McCarthy found T.J. Hockenson for a couple of nice completions. McCarthy hit Hockenson near the sideline on 7-on-7. Soon after that, McCarthy ripped a pass up the seam to Hockenson, placing the football away from linebacker Blake Cashman. Hockenson secured the grab on a ball that isn't easy to make but is almost essential for long-term success for NFL quarterbacks. 2024 draftees start with the first-team offensive line The Vikings used a couple of their 2024 draftees with the first-team offensive line as veterans continue to recover from injury. Walter Rouse, a sixth-round pick in 2024, started at left tackle in place of Christian Darrisaw. He was easily disposed of by Jonathan Greenard on one highlight McCarthy pass. Michael Jurgens, a seventh-round pick last year, started at center in place of Ryan Kelly, who was a limited participant with an elbow injury.
USA Today
08-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Minnesota Vikings land familiar face on offense in PFF's 2019 NFL re-draft
The Minnesota Vikings entered the 2019 NFL Draft looking for a long-term solution on their interior offensive line. They selected center Garrett Bradbury out of North Carolina State with the 18th overall pick. Although he was a starter each season, the results were mixed. Only once did he post a PFF pass grade over 60.0, as he was credited with allowing 164 pressures. He was a better run-blocker, grading out with at least a 61.9 grade every year but never higher than 72.4. So, who would the Vikings select if they could do the draft all over again? PFF did a 2019 re-draft, and although the Vikings didn't pick Bradbury, they still selected a future Viking. Minnesota takes T.J. Hockenson in the re-draft, ten picks later than his original draft position with the Detroit Lions. Hockenson now resides in Minnesota after being traded by the Lions in 2022, but the Vikings likely would've been satisfied with him as a more immediate successor to Kyle Rudolph. Over the past five seasons, Hockenson ranks sixth among tight ends in PFF WAR and seventh in PFF receiving grade among players with at least 100 targets. Selecting Hockenson would have eliminated the need to draft Irv Smith, Jr. in the second round. Smith caught 91 passes for 858 yards and nine touchdowns in 37 games in Minnesota. Hockenson has 196 receptions for 1,934 yards and eight touchdowns in 35 games with the Vikings.
USA Today
07-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
T.J. Hockenson offers praise to his new quarterback J.J. McCarthy ahead of 2025
T.J. Hockenson offers praise to his new quarterback J.J. McCarthy ahead of 2025 Nothing is more critical than a quarterback winning over their locker room to be a successful leader. J.J. McCarthy has done that and then some in recent months. On Tuesday, we had another example of his leadership shine through in an interview by Chris Long with T.J. Hockenson. On his Green Light podcast, Chris Long interviewed the Vikings tight end and talked about an array of topics, but one of them did include the new starting quarterback for the team. Hockenson gave a glowing review of the fellow Big Ten veteran, saying McCarthy is a 'great dude. Great person. I can't say enough good things about him. He wants to be great in this league.' Hockenson also added that the Vikings and McCarthy are all encouraged to hang out outside of the building, which has helped bring them closer as a team and together as a unit. After tearing his meniscus in his lone preseason game in 2024, J.J. McCarthy is now expected to be the starter for the Vikings though he is not yet officially the starter. Kevin O'Connell spoke on why there is a delay but the move is expected once training camp gets underway.
